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Volume VI. No. 1 January 1946

The Europa's Misfortunes, Documents from the Letter-Book of Captain Nathaniel Brown, Page 20

20 THE EUROPA'S MISFORTUNES
Capt. Nathaniel Brown
Dear Sir-
SalemJany 27th 1850
You will proceed in the Bark Europa of which you are Master and super­cargo,
from Boston to the pepper ports on the West Coast of Sumatra,
when you will procure a cargo of Pepper on the best terms & with all the
despatch possible & return to St. Helena, when, should you be unwilling
to continue in the Barque, you will leave her in charge of the Mate Mr.
Bowditch.
We hope however you will conclude to stay by her, in this case, write
us from St. Helena, if your mate will do to take charge of her on a new
voyage, or if we must send a master out, also if you would advise sending
the new master & your son as joint supercargoes, or the former as sailing
master & the latter in full charge of the property.
From St. Helena (should you get no letters from us instructing you dif­ferently)
the Barque will proceed to Gibraltar, where we shall send let­ters
to care of Horatio Sprague, Esq.
From your great experience on the Coast we think it unnecessary to of­fer
any suggestions feeling confident that you will get as cheap a cargo
and as good weight as any one on the Coast. You will probably find but few
vessels there on your arrival, but as several will probably be fitted out in
the course of a few months, it appears to us, as if it would be better to load
at once-you will also bear in mind that you can afford to pay 25 @ 37 1/2¢
per picul more for Northern, than for Southern pepper.
As we give you no limits, there seems no possibility of your failing to
procure a cargo, but should such a thing happen, you will proceed to Pen­ang
& if Pepper can be had on fair terms, load a cargo and proceed as be­fore
directed, otherwise take a freight for Canton, or go there in ballast &
after consulting Messrs Augustine Heard & Co. do what you think best
and most likely to prove for our interest.
In case of accident to Capt. Brown, the Mate Mr. Bowditch will take
charge of the ship as Master & Mr. C. F. W. Brown will take charge of
the property & be guided by these instructions.
For your services you will receive wages as pr. shipping paper & four pr.
ct commissions on the net sales of your cargo in Europe, or this country.
[Signed]-B. W. STONE
WILLIAM STONE
B. H. SILSBEE
J. H.SILSBEE
NATHANIEL BROWN
W. D. PICKMAN

Articles include: The American Commodore in the Argentine Navy by Phyllis DeKay Wheelock; The Europa's Misfortunes, Documents from the Letter-book of Captain Nathanial Brown, edited by Lawrence Waters Jenkins; The Dismal Swamp Canal, Part III by Alexander Crosby Brown; Wartime Canoe Building in the Marshall Islands by W. S. Jenkins; and Double Gaff Rigs by John Lyman. Notes, Documents and Book Reviews are also included.

The Europa's Misfortunes, Documents from the Letter-Book of Captain Nathaniel Brown, Page 20

Author

Edited by Lawrence Waters Jenkins

Description

20 THE EUROPA'S MISFORTUNES
Capt. Nathaniel Brown
Dear Sir-
SalemJany 27th 1850
You will proceed in the Bark Europa of which you are Master and super­cargo,
from Boston to the pepper ports on the West Coast of Sumatra,
when you will procure a cargo of Pepper on the best terms & with all the
despatch possible & return to St. Helena, when, should you be unwilling
to continue in the Barque, you will leave her in charge of the Mate Mr.
Bowditch.
We hope however you will conclude to stay by her, in this case, write
us from St. Helena, if your mate will do to take charge of her on a new
voyage, or if we must send a master out, also if you would advise sending
the new master & your son as joint supercargoes, or the former as sailing
master & the latter in full charge of the property.
From St. Helena (should you get no letters from us instructing you dif­ferently)
the Barque will proceed to Gibraltar, where we shall send let­ters
to care of Horatio Sprague, Esq.
From your great experience on the Coast we think it unnecessary to of­fer
any suggestions feeling confident that you will get as cheap a cargo
and as good weight as any one on the Coast. You will probably find but few
vessels there on your arrival, but as several will probably be fitted out in
the course of a few months, it appears to us, as if it would be better to load
at once-you will also bear in mind that you can afford to pay 25 @ 37 1/2¢
per picul more for Northern, than for Southern pepper.
As we give you no limits, there seems no possibility of your failing to
procure a cargo, but should such a thing happen, you will proceed to Pen­ang
& if Pepper can be had on fair terms, load a cargo and proceed as be­fore
directed, otherwise take a freight for Canton, or go there in ballast &
after consulting Messrs Augustine Heard & Co. do what you think best
and most likely to prove for our interest.
In case of accident to Capt. Brown, the Mate Mr. Bowditch will take
charge of the ship as Master & Mr. C. F. W. Brown will take charge of
the property & be guided by these instructions.
For your services you will receive wages as pr. shipping paper & four pr.
ct commissions on the net sales of your cargo in Europe, or this country.
[Signed]-B. W. STONE
WILLIAM STONE
B. H. SILSBEE
J. H.SILSBEE
NATHANIEL BROWN
W. D. PICKMAN